5/30/2012

Many materials can be used when laying Patio Pavers. Concrete pavers are one of the most commonly used materials for paving patios. This is due to the fact that concrete is much cheaper than most materials such as natural stone like sandstone, bluestone etc. Concrete pavers are normally produced in block forms and can be cut and molded to any shape your project may require.

Common Shapes Available

Simple shapes like rectangles, oblong, and squares are mostly used for Patio Paving applications. When using concrete, these shapes are generally used to imitate things like bricks.

Most natural stones come with their own unique shapes. So when using natural stone pavers on your patio you may find that the range and selections available are not as broad as those man made paver materials, such as concrete and brick.
This is where concrete pavers are a great choice for your patio, it has the advantage of having more shapes, colors, sizes and patterns to choose from. If you cannot find what you want, you can have your paver shape and size custom made for your specific installation.

Irregular Shapes

Irregular paver shapes can also be applied to your patio area. They can help create a classical, but elegant formal look. Irregular shapes are made from things such as cut off’s, broken stones, river rocks, ocean rocks, and broken pavers.

Combination of Shapes

Many combinations of shapes can be applied. This can help break up a large area. For example, if a square shape has been used it can sometimes look endless and quite boring. This is where you can apply other shapes like diamonds, or triangles to break up the squared look.

5/29/2012

The exquisiteness and individuality of antique pavers is one of their main benefits. They give an old word feel and look. They’re ageless and worn textures give a 15th century outlook.

Antique pavers will add beauty and magnificence to any residential or commercial paving applications. These days age there are many types to choose from

Antique Brick Pavers

These pavers are used on many applications such as:
Flooring
Courtyards
Landscaping
Patios
Driveways

They offer a rustic feel and appearance. The pavers are made to look antique during the firing process. The temperature at the firing process is highly increased. This is needed to produce the antiqued appearance and texture.
Antique Granite Cobblestone Pavers

These exclusive pavers range from 200 to 300 years old. They have been used most commonly in European countries over many centuries. They are the perfect choice for achieving a rustic look.

Their shape is irregular and laying patterns are generally random. They offer many fine colors that also add to their rustic feel. Some of these colors include;

Gray
Purple
Smoke
Green
Ash
These antique pavers are one of the most durable. They only get stronger with age. One of their fantastic qualities is their ability to withstand the length of time, which makes them irreplaceable.

5/28/2012

Cobble stones were the first and original type of pavers that were used a few centuries ago for public roads and pathways. The origin of this type of pavement material was a long process in which the cobble stones were removed from along riverbanks. The modern era of cobble stones are a different process from its origins. They are actually produced from natural stones where they are cut and shaped from sandstone, limestone and granite. This modern process is a less time consuming process with the advantage of cobble stone pavers being less expensive then original cobble stone pavers.

Twist Of Old World Charm

The decorative appeal of cobblestone paving designs is enriched with a twist of old world charm, characterizes and natural beauty. This is one of the main reasons as to why they are as popular in modern landscaped settings as they are so diverse for any type of landscape setting decor, whether it’s a modern, contemporary or traditional presentation.

Natural Capabilities And Resistances

Cobble stone paving applications are often used for various residential, community and commercial pavement applications. The great aspects of using cobble stone pavers is they have natural beauty and elegance about them as they are produced from natural stones, they have superior durability attributes, they are long lasting as they also possess natural capabilities and resistance values. As for the decorative appearance, there are many paving designs and patterns that can be achieved to suit personal decor requirements.

For commercial and community paving applications, cobble stone pavers are more commonly featured on pathways, pedestrian cross roads, sidewalks and walkways. The durability and long lasting performance is outstanding, as there are still original cobblestone pavements throughout Europe that have withstood the test of time.

Cobblestone Paving For Residential Applications

Cobble stone pavers are a great landscaping pavement product for residential purposes. They are durable, they have tremendous strength, they are slip resistant, and they are versatile as they can be featured in any external area. The following are some of the more common external areas where cobblestone pavers can be featured for their functional values as well as their decorative appearance:

Driveways
Walkways
Pathways
Sidewalks
Pool Areas
Courtyard
Verandas
Patio
Cobble stone paving applications will create a paved area that is filled with natural beauty, with additional character and ambiance to the overall landscape setting.

5/27/2012

The great thing about Cobblestone Pavers is that you can have them laid in a wide range of patterns. This enables you to create an elegant and appealing Cobblestone applications in the front or back yards of your property.

Another design feature of Cobblestone Pavers are the variety of different shapes that are available. These shapes includes square, rectangle with rounded edges, tumbled and the very popular octagon with an added small square piece, otherwise known as the ‘keystone’ shape.
The “keystone’ shape enables the creation of very decorative and intricate paver patterns. These Cobblestone patterns are widely used for patios, courtyards, decking around the pool, walkways, pathways, balconies, verandahs, features and decorative centerpieces.

We will now discuss the various laying patterns for Cobblestone Pavers that are available on the market. Simply ask your manufacturer or Landscaping Contractor for their particular range of patterns or perhaps suggest one that you may prefer from the following range.

Cobblestone Paver Laying Patterns

The pattern that you choose will vary depending on the type of shape paver you select to install. The following patterns will depend on the paver shape that you use. You will however get a good idea of the pattern that will suite your particular application of Cobblestone Pavers.

Running Bond Patterns

There are three main types of Running Bond Patterns. The first is the Stack Bond, and this is simply where the pavers are stacked on top of each other vertically and horizontally in straight lines.

Second pattern is the 1/3 Running Bond, in this patterns the joints for each row overlap the previous by a third of the width of the paver used.
And the lasl pattern is the Half Running Bond patterns, where the joints for each new row overlap the bottom row by half the width of the paver.

Herringbone Patterns

There are two types of Herringbone pattern, the 90-degree and the 45-degree.
The 90-degree Herringbone pattern can be most easily described as a laying pattern consisting of 90-degree capital L’s. When you look at the pattern all you can see is a pavement full of the letter L. This will also depend on the shape of Paver you choose to use.

The 45 degree Herringbone pattern is similar to the 90 degree, the only difference is that the capital L’s are laid on a 45 degree angle.
Basket-weave Pattern

The Basket-weave pattern consists of a laying pattern where two adjacent pavers are laid vertically and then horizontally, in continuous sequence.
The Circle Fan Pattern

The Circle Fan pattern as its name states, can be achieved by laying pattern of various sizes of pavers in the form of a circle or fan. This pattern forms an appealing decorative statement, and can be used for a feature or centerpiece. It is a traditional pattern choice for Cobblestone Pavers.

5/24/2012

There are many benefits of using cobblestone pavers. You can create beautiful designs and patterns that look like authentic cobblestone, with minimal work and in a fraction of time. There are so many shapes, sizes and colors available today, it would make your job easy!

You can create a classical look with cobblestone, with the same quality finish. Repairs are also very easy, you just simply replace the affected pavers with another.

With cobblestone pavers, you can also be guaranteed of its durability, and longevity!

Design Features

Cobblestone pavers are very popular in the commercial, industrial

and residential arenas. It is now easy to create that ‘old world’ charm that is associated with cobblestone! The vast array of intricate patterns and designs are easy to achieve over large and small areas with the use of detailed cobblestone pavers.
You can create unique features in your garden or house, which would look like it took a lifetime to complete! Also, there are literally hundreds of colors to choose from, something to suit everyone!

A QUICK INSTALLATION GUIDE

Excavation

First, you will need to excavate the desired area to an appropriate depth. You will need to take into account the materials you’re using, the base material and sand bedding. Once you have dug a trench, you will need to compact your sub-base.

It is now time to backfill with base material, generally crushed stones. Here is a guide to determining how deep your base material should be:

Use by foot traffic only: 3-4 inches deep
Use by light vehicle traffic: 6-8 inches deep
Use by heavy vehicle traffic: 8-12 inches deep
When you have determined and laid your base material, be sure to compact the area to 95% density, with the use of a tamping machine.

Sand Bedding

You can now spread and even the layer of your concrete sand. Normally a 1-2 inches layer is required. Screed the sand to create uniform depth.

Edge Restraints

Edge restraints are always recommended. They are available in a variety of material types, such as wooden, plastic, concrete, etc.

Install Cobblestone Pavers

When you have decided on your chosen pattern, lay the cobblestones accordingly. Remember to take care when laying out the pavers; you should distribute the colors evenly. Lay these pavers very close together. If you need to cut pavers, use a saw or a fracture tool.

Fill the Joints

Sweep sand over the joints of the cobblestone pavers, this will fill them up. With the use of a vibrating plate, compact the pavers into the sand bedding. It is recommended to carry the vibrating plate twice over the paved surface.

5/23/2012

Porphyry is by nature a multi-colored stone. So when looking at color charts for various manufacturers, keep in mind that the colors should be looked at as a general appearance. Porphyry can vary from stone to stone, because it is a natural stone. This beautiful color palette makes it such a unique paving material.
The colors of Porphyry are so versatile they can be matched to any existing or new pavers that they may accompany in your project. You can be guaranteed that every Porphyry Paver application will be different in color shade from the next application. This ensures your installation will always be an original.

Using a combination of Porphyry colors can create an appealing contrast, particularly if Porphyry Pavers are used with other stones. For example, two colors of Porphyry along with Marble, can result in an elegant feature or centerpiece.

Porphyry Natural Stone Pavers Color

Reds

Porphyry most commonly comes in varied shades of red. The red shades range from pink, to reddish to dark ochre. These reds usually contain speckles of white, pink, charcoal and sometimes orange, which alters the hue in certain areas. This shade includes the Patagonian Porphyry and dominant red hued multi-colored Porphyry Pavers. The finish on this color shade is generally a natural cleft surface.

Grays

This shade of Porphyry is never uniform in color. The dominant hues range from gray to purple gray and tan, with varying intensity. Depending on the type of Porphyry, the colors of the speckles can vary. The Patagonian type has whitish and pink speckles in the background, while the Trentino Porphyry has pink and black speckles.

Red-Browns
This variety of Porphyry is dominated by red, brown purple and rust colored hues. The speckles in this variety are generally white, pink, dark brown and clear; type of crystals. These translucent crystal specks create a dynamic appeal.

Purples

This variety of Porphyry is dominated by red, purple and ruby red colored hues. The speckles of this variety are generally white and dark red. The surface is commonly rough.

5/22/2012

Porphyry is a type of igneous rock. The significance of igneous rocks is that they are comprised of large crystals, usually quartz and feldspar crystals called phenocrysts, of greater than 2 millimeters which can be seen by the human eye. These larger crystals are mixed with tiny crystal materials called the groundmass to form an igneous rock.

The formation of natural porphyry deposits is a two-phase process. Hot magma mixes with overlying rock material to form the larger crystals, then when the magma spits out of the volcanic origin, it mixes with the tiny crystal groundmass and cools very quickly to form the igneous rock structure.

History of Porphyry

The ancient Egyptians were one of the first people to quarry porphyry stone successfully. Egyptian kings and queens were the exclusive benefactors of porphyry works and masterpieces.

In about the year 300 A.D. the ancient Romans used porphyry to decorate royal palace rooms for family members of the royal empire. King Louis the fourteenth of France is known to have owned the world’s largest collection of porphyry stone.

Variety of Porphyry

There are many varieties of porphyry stones and their name is derived from the character of the phenocrysts (large crystals) in the groundmass. They are found in main classes of igneous rocks such as granite, syenite, diorite, gabbro, and peridotite.

Porphyry Pavers and Tiles

Porphyry Pavers and Tiles are recommended for exterior paving applications, such as; patios, courtyards, walkways and driveways. They are ideal for outdoor flooring because they are freeze, thaw and slip resistant. Porphyry Pavers will create a brilliant look, with various sizes, shapes and thicknesses available.

Porphyry Flagging

This is the best value type of Porphyry paving material. Flagging or irregular Flagging is suitable for outdoor projects like; patios, pathways, courtyards and portals. Porphyry Flagging is ideal for bordering the swimming pool, because of its rough textured surface finish.

Porphyry Cubes

Porphyry Cubes are simply, cubes of patterns. They are also the most popular style of Porphyry used today!

5/21/2012

Granite is highly recommended as a paving material due to its high density, enormous strength, water-absorption and acid resistance. These characteristics make granite a popular choice when paving hard surfaces.

Another advantage of choosing granite paving is the naturally stunning and aesthetically pleasing result that can be achieved. Whilst being harder than concrete and steel, granite can be used for both interior and exterior applications such as driveways, walkways, patios and pools. Granite is suitable for modern or classic designs.

As granite is quarried worldwide, there are a variety of patterns and colors for consumers to choose from. Such patterns can reveal a lot about particular granites including geological conditions and its locality. Irregular patterns of random appearance can be used to create unique designs.

Among the most common patterns available in granite paving, are 45 and 90-degree herringbone, basket weave, running bond and stack bond. Additional granite paving patterns include ‘circle in square, fan, and squares.’

Granite-Paving Patterns:

Herringbone, Stack and Running Bonds, Basket Weave

It is imperative to use assorted colors when creating a paving pattern in order to create a pleasant eye-catching effect. The choice of pattern and colors will determine the outcome of your design.

(1) HERRINGBONE: Each course or sequence of pavers is made of granite that lay either at a 45 or 90-degree angle. The angle rotates direction with each sequence. Such a pattern will provide the greatest degree of interlock between the granite pavers.
(2) RUNNING or STACK BOND: A Running bond pattern entails each course of granite pavers alternating and varying as opposed to being on top of each other as visualized in a stack bond pattern. In both running and stack bond patterns, each sequence of pavers is composed entirely of stretchers. Running bond is one of the most suitable patterns for driveways whilst stack bond is primarily suitable for areas subject to a lot of foot traffic such as walkways.
(3) BASKET WEAVE: A checkerboard pattern of granite pavers laid either level or on an angle.
The basket weave paving pattern is quite suitable and hence frequently used for driveway paving. Basket weave creates a valuable end result with an eye-catching effect.

Granite Paver Patterns can be dependent on the shape of the Pavers

It has been found that certain paving patterns are dependent on the shape of granite pavers. For example, patterns such as ‘circle in square,’ ‘fan’ or ‘squares’ will depend on the shape of the granite pavers to a high degree. The ‘squares’ pattern is quite identical to a stack bond pattern, however the other two patterns mentioned are the result of the different shaped pavers.

Generally, square and rectangular shapes are most common in granite paving; however some pavers such as Symmetry and Uni-Anchorlock have shapes that are applicable to certain patterns because of the geometrical aspects of the different pavers shapes.

5/20/2012

It is important for a person to truly understand how popular granite has become today in terms of its uses as an ideal building material. Granite is a volcanic rock formed over long periods of time by enormous pressure and heat. Once extracted from the various quarries, the granite is polished to create a smooth surface.

There are two key basic characteristics to note when learning about granite pavers. First, granite has an obvious crystalline look that creates a rare beautiful effect to the eye, and secondly, its various natural attributes enable the use of granite in both residential and commercial buildings all over the world.

The use of granite for constructing walkways, patios or pool coping is a perfectly good choice for its ability to create an aesthetically pleasing effect to the person who chooses to use it. It is this feature of granite material that has enticed many people to use it in wall and floor foundations.

Granite Pavers and their Range of Colors:

Granite pavers are used in the construction of walkways, patios, gardens and pool coping. They come in a huge variety of colors that it is quite impossible not to find the desired color of choice.

The four most common colors used for granite paving include black, yellow, rose, and gray. However, the broader color spectrum consists of hundreds of different colors to choose from. Some of these colors include counter white, majestic mauve, chateau le Rouge, classic crimson, maple red, etc.

The three essential element minerals of granite (feldspar, quartz, and mica) differ in proportions when extracted from the quarry. The difference in proportions of these elements influences the color, texture, and structural characteristics of granite. This is important when choosing the type and color of granite for your specific needs.

Types of Granite Finishes:

Polished, Honed, Diamond 8, Thermal Diamond 10

POLISHED: The polished finish creates a shiny gloss to the granite in which color and gemstone stands-out.

HONED: Unlike a polished finish, the honed finished brings out the complete color of the stone, without a shiny mirror-glass finish.

DIAMOND 8: A honed finish, with the additional removal of stones in the granite that tend to leave a misty exterior look. This type of finish is generally adapted to darker granite colors.

THERMAL: By applying a high-temperature flame to the stone’s surface, a rough finish is created through a process in which the flames rupture crystals on the outer face. This type of finish is most suitable for walkways due to its high skid-resistant element.

DIAMOND 10: A thermal finish with a high-pressured water-jet treatment in which color and appearance of the granite is boosted. Such a finish is once again recommended for darker granite surfaces.
Black Basalt - Honed
Gray Polished
Gray flamed
The Effect of a Quarry on Granite Colors and Prices

As the excavation of granite continues from different parts of the world, the color variations of granite will continue. There could be some quarries that produce granites with rare colors while other quarries produce decorative granites.

As with any type of commodity, the price of granite is also influenced by the law of supply and demand.

5/17/2012

Granite is famous for its strength, hardness and eternity. Building materials made from granite have a reputation for being virtually indestructible. That is why granite pavers can provide a long-term solution for anyone who wants their pavement to last for many decades and beyond.

The origin of the word granite is derived from the Latin word, meaning ‘grain’.

Granite is a natural rock. The three main minerals composing granite are mica, feldspar and quartz. It is formed by the crystallization of magma within the crust of the earth, creating a grainy texture.

The density of granite is 2700 kg/m3, its hardness is 7 by Moh’s scale and has a compressive strength between 150 and 250 MPa. Granite’s characteristic properties make it highly suitable for structural, decorative and monumental applications. With inherent strength it is popular with architects that require their granite pavers to last for many generations to come.

Granite is resistant to the long-term effects of weathering and aging and it can withstand cold environments. There are natural deposits of granite located throughout the world with granite quarries in production among the major continents. It is in plentiful supply and will be available for a long time.

Granite Color

When highly polished, granite will maintain its brilliant polish for many generations. It is the reason why granite is a popular choice with stonemasons for building monuments and statues. Granite is available in a wide variety of colors. The spectrum of granite color is broad, with tones ranging from white through to black colors. Some colors are rare while others are decorative; making them more valuable than those that comes in common colors. There are many granite paver colors selections available from granite merchants across the United States.

History of Granite Use

The earliest records of granite use dates back to ancient Egyptian civilizations, 7000-8000 years ago. The Egyptians labored to build the ancient pyramids and created the pharaohs’ sarcophaguses with granite material. To this very day there is a remnant of the ancient Egyptian dynasty in existence called the Luxor obelisk, it is made of pink granite, weighing about 250 tones and stands about 25metres in height. It is located in Paris, France.

The ancient Greeks used granite and marble during their time The ancient Roman civilization is renowned for constructing many granite monuments and temples throughout Europe during their reign, with some of them still in existence today. During the Renaissance era in Europe, there was a great deal of construction carried out using granite stone, such as the St. Michel monastery and abbey in France being made of granite materials. The use of granite pavers is evident during the Renaissance period.